Suspicious substance found at welcome center and rest stop

The Alabama Department of Transportation closed a state welcome center near the Alabama-Florida line and a rest stop in Chilton County after finding a suspicious substance in the men's restroom, an official said today.

The department closed the Baldwin County welcome center on Interstate 10 Monday afternoon after they discovered a substance in a soap dispenser in the men's restroom, said Tony Harris, a highway department spokesman.

After officials discovered the substance, they initiated a statewide search of welcome centers and rest stops, Harris said. A Chilton County rest stop on the northbound side of Interstate 65 was closed this morning after officials found a suspicious substance in at least one soap dispenser in the men's restroom, Harris said.

"Most of the time when you react this way it is out an abundance of caution. Most of the time it is a harmless prank or hoax, but you can't take any chances," Harris said.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management is testing the substances, Harris said.